How my Dream Kitchen Changed My Life

<p>Being able to redesign my old kitchen has definitely changed my life. It was a long time coming, as I’d always meant to redesign the kitchen that my partner and I moved into when we first took the house. I wanted somewhere where we could cook with more space, and have people over for dinner. Basically, we wanted to turn what was a large kitchen space with a lot of clutter from the past owners into something that we actually wanted to eat in and spend time in when we were not cooking. My new dream kitchen ticks all these boxes, and has turned me onto the idea of bespoke kitchens as worth the investment.</p><br/><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="How my Dream Kitchen Changed My Life" height="428" src="http://www.architectureartdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/1-630x428.jpg" title="How my Dream Kitchen Changed My Life" width="630"/></p><br/><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=interior+design+kitchen+ideas&start=126&sa=X&biw=957&bih=611&tbs=isz:lt,islt:xga&tbm=isch&tbnid=EWnN9h_f_B4-XM:&imgrefurl=http://iyume.com/kitchen-remodeling-changing-the-kitchen-with-wooden-concept/simple-small-wooden-kitchen-remodeling-design-ideas/&docid=4GJxBAq3TcLXEM&imgurl=http://iyume.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/simple-small-wooden-kitchen-remodeling-design-ideas.jpg&w=1100&h=749&ei=zeCJUfjEJYq0rAfZ_oG4Bw&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:31,s:100,i:97&iact=rc&dur=3452&page=12&tbnh=180&tbnw=272&ndsp=12&tx=100&ty=73" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Image source</a></p><br/><p>The original kitchen when we first moved into the house was quite large in relation to the rest of the rooms, but had not been changed for a while. The floor tiles were old, the central island large, and the cupboards needed paint – there was also a free standing washing machine in the corner that took up a lot of space. We could get around, but the room did not have a lot of life or personality. It took a while to get to the point where we afford to remodel, but once everything was started, it went very quickly.</p><br/><p><img alt="How my Dream Kitchen Changed My Life" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-14512" height="472" src="http://www.architectureartdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/3-630x472.jpg" title="How my Dream Kitchen Changed My Life" width="630"/></p><br/><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=interior+design+kitchen+ideas&sa=X&tbas=0&biw=957&bih=611&tbs=isz:l&tbm=isch&tbnid=CtlCZJyWrFN5eM:&imgrefurl=http://themaisonette.net/kitchen-interior-design-ideas-interior-design-ideas-best-home&docid=v0wdkVCaW7ao8M&imgurl=http://themaisonette.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Kitchen-interior-design-ideas-interior-design-ideas-best-home.jpg&w=1024&h=768&ei=aeOJUcWsLoXYrQfh84G4BA&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:41,s:0,i:253&iact=rc&dur=198&page=4&tbnh=175&tbnw=259&start=30&ndsp=12&tx=111&ty=33" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Image source</a></p><br/><p>I have always liked designer kitchens, and had quite a clear idea about what I wanted to do. I wanted something that was not too traditional, but had to be clean and well designed enough so that I’d have more space to cook and serve up. The first step was to strip out the old cabinets, and remove the central island. This took a while, but meant that we had more of a canvas to use. We decided on a Shaker Style kitchen, which is a good mix of traditional cabinets and furniture, and modern appliances.</p><br/><p><img alt="How my Dream Kitchen Changed My Life" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-14513" height="407" src="http://www.architectureartdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/4-630x407.jpg" title="How my Dream Kitchen Changed My Life" width="630"/><br/> <br/><br/></p><br/><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=interior+design+kitchen+ideas&sa=X&biw=957&bih=611&tbs=isz:lt,islt:xga&tbm=isch&tbnid=BDqcefFPQRMpHM:&imgrefurl=http://www.interiorclip.com/interior/1200x776/interior-design-kitchen-ideas-10352.html&docid=18hQDyMATk3riM&imgurl=http://www.interiorclip.com/interior-image/interior-design-kitchen-ideas.jpg&w=1200&h=776&ei=RN6JUfeWFYGyrAfmz4G4CQ&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:44,s:0,i:262&iact=rc&dur=1226&page=5&tbnh=175&tbnw=279&start=42&ndsp=12&tx=62&ty=62" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Image source</a></p><br/><p>The new kitchen has painted white cabinets in maple, and granite for the main worktops. We wanted to replace all of our old appliances, and went for a new oven with an inbuilt digital microwave, and a fitted washer and dryer behind a ground cabinet. Being able to remove the washing machine from the kitchen made a big difference to the space, and means that we can open up more of the light in the room. We also added in some stainless steel accessories and knife holders, as well as a small dresser to go where the fridge was. We went for an antique dresser, and also downsized our fridge and freezer to create more space around the counters, while replacing the tiles.</p><br/><p><img alt="How my Dream Kitchen Changed My Life" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-14514" height="406" src="http://www.architectureartdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/5-630x406.jpg" title="How my Dream Kitchen Changed My Life" width="630"/></p><br/><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=interior+design+kitchen+ideas&sa=X&biw=957&bih=611&tbs=isz:lt,islt:xga&tbm=isch&tbnid=j4vANs8Vx-JGSM:&imgrefurl=http://themaisonette.net/kitchen-design-inspiration-brown-inspirative-kitchen-design-idea-with&docid=zeCithjUTZQ7FM&imgurl=http://themaisonette.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Kitchen-new-home-plans-interior-designs-stylish-home-designs.png&w=1997&h=1287&ei=RN6JUfeWFYGyrAfmz4G4CQ&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:7,s:0,i:143&iact=rc&dur=276&page=2&tbnh=178&tbnw=280&start=7&ndsp=12&tx=90&ty=78" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Image source</a></p><br/><p>The final kitchen is much more open, with a wooden table instead of the central island. The new appliances are cheaper to run than the old ones, and we can actually eat in the kitchen without bumping into each other. Overall, making my dream kitchen was one of the best home remodeling decisions I have made, and it should last for a long time, given the quality of the craftsmanship for the cupboards and the granite worktops.</p>

How my Dream Kitchen Changed My Life

Being able to redesign my old kitchen has definitely changed my life. It was a long time coming, as I’d always meant to redesign the kitchen...

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Pinterest Changed My Life!

<p>Okay, so possibly this is a large statement and feasible over-endorsement. But it was either that, or <strong>Pinterest</strong> located me at a time in my life when I actually needed to be reminded who I was, what I loved and what I required to produced me tick. For those readers who don’t know what Pinterest is, take a moment to come out from below your rock, and pay a visit to the mecca that is www.pinterest.com a booming hub for like-minded Creatives to share all their cool interests on virtual pin boards. Each pin hyperlinks to its exclusive URL and acts as tiny portal into the PINspiring planet at huge.</p><br/><p></br></p><br/><p>Getting previously lost myself in a dot-to-dot career that wiped out what I loved about myself in lieu of a good salary and fancy CV, I had completely lost touch with myself. Cue Pinterest. This handy social-light helped me rebuild my profile and redefine what I had known the whole time. 36 boards and 4 953 pins later I now have a snap shot of my life and what I want to be, have and do when I grow up. I even took items one step further and now run <strong>Pinspired craft classes</strong> for like-minded ladies that want to make their DIY pins a reality. I suppose this is my way of contributing to the creative chain, and surrounding myself with other inspiring woman who are expressing themselves, one artistic project at a time. </p><br/><p></br></p><br/><p><br/><img alt="o Pinterest Changed My Life! amazing ideas " src="http://www.decoradvisor.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/o_____________________________________________.jpg" title="Pinterest Changed My Life! amazing ideas " width="613" /></br></p><br/><p>So with this in thoughts, it was only fitting that my newest DIY project was a real-life pin board for my art studio. Here’s how it happened:</p><br/><p></br></p><br/><p><strong>You will need:</strong></p><br/><ul><br/><li>1 x old frame (preferably with its backing board)</li><br/><li>Loose cork sheeting</li><br/><li>1 x cutting knife and board</li><br/><li>1 x painters tape</li><br/><li>Craft glue</li><br/><li>Silicone glue</li><br/><li>Drawing pins</li><br/><li>Buttons and bits</li><br/></ul><br/><p></br></p><br/><p><strong>Approach:</strong></p><br/><ol><br/><li>Locate an old frame- the larger the better. Take away the glass (you won’t be needing this any much more).</li><br/><li>Get a roll of soft cork (sold by the meter)</li><br/><li>With your cutting knife, reduce the cork to the size of the backing board.</li><br/><li>Paste cork onto the backing.</li><br/><li>Assemble the frame, as you would typically do when putting in the glass and picture. Reinforce the back by taping where the backing meets the frame.</li><br/><li>For a fun touch, use a silicone glue gun to attach buttons or trinkets to flat drawing pins. Now you have some entertaining personalised pins to attach your bits and bobs.</li><br/><li>Pin to your hearts content.</li><br/></ol><br/><p></br></p><br/><p><br/><img alt="o Pinterest Changed My Life! amazing ideas " src="http://www.decoradvisor.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/o______________________________________________.jpg" title="Pinterest Changed My Life! amazing ideas " width="613" /></br></p><br/><p>And that’s how I created my Pinterest tribute pin board: Taking the old and forgotten and giving it a new lease on life. Possibly my next project must be printing a T-shirt that says, “Pinned this. Completed that!” …Hmmm what an Pinspirational concept…better rapidly get onto Pinterest and discover out how to silkscreen!</p><br/><p></br></p><br/><p>For far more info on Andy’s Pinspired craft classes, click right here. Pay a visit to me right here on Pinterest. </p><br/><p></br></p><br/><p>

Pinterest Changed My Life!

Okay, so possibly this is a large statement and feasible over-endorsement. But it was either that, or Pinterest located me at a time in my ...

Read more »